Just a 40-minute boat ride from the bustling shores of Mactan Island lies Nalusuan Island, one of Cebu’s most sought-after island-hopping destinations. As a designated marine sanctuary, this uninhabited island boasts crystal-clear shallow waters teeming with vibrant marine life, making it the perfect spot for families, kids, and even non-swimmers to enjoy a safe and fun aquatic experience.
In this guide, we’ll explore why Nalusuan Island has become a rising star in Cebu’s resort scene. Get insider tips, must-see spots, and essential travel advice from a trusted local tour operator to make the most of your island adventure.
Famous as an island hopping spot! What is Nalusuan Island?
Nalusuan Island is an uninhabited island located 45 minutes by boat from Mactan Island. Mactan Island is an island near Cebu City, and since it has many accommodation facilities, it is often used as a base by tourists in Cebu, making Nalusuan Island a very accessible area for tourists.
In fact, many tourists from Japan go island hopping to Nalusuan Island and nearby Hilutungan Island. (⇒ Hilutungan Island, which is often visited together with Nalusuan Island as a snorkeling spot, is explained in detail in “Hilutungan Island: Private charter for cheap, best snorkeling spot in Cebu.” Please refer to it if you are interested.
What is Island Hopping?
Island hopping is one of the best ways to experience Cebu’s tropical charm. It involves renting a boat and visiting several remote islands, where you can enjoy activities like snorkeling, scuba diving, beach volleyball, and even a beachside BBQ.
What Makes Nalusuan Island Special?
Nalusuan Island may be small—just 100 meters long—but it offers big experiences! You can circle the entire island in about 10 minutes, but its crystal-clear waters, vibrant marine life, and picturesque scenery make it a must-visit for those seeking a tropical escape. Snorkeling is one of the top activities here, allowing visitors to explore the underwater world.
The island’s long pier, stretching far into the sea, is a signature landmark. It not only offers stunning views but also makes for an Instagram-worthy photo spot, giving you the perfect backdrop of turquoise waters and the feeling of being far removed from everyday life.
Important Note:
To protect Nalusuan Island’s pristine beauty, bringing beverages to the island is prohibited. This effort helps keep the island’s stunning landscape clean and enjoyable for everyone.
What are the three attractions of Nalusuan Island?
Nalusuan Island, one of Cebu’s most stunning island-hopping destinations, offers a unique combination of natural beauty, marine life, and relaxing activities. Here are the top three attractions that make Nalusuan Island a must-visit for anyone looking to explore the best of Cebu’s islands:
Attraction 1: The photogenic long pier! The pier is longer than the island itself.
The long pier at the entrance to the island is a landmark that can be said to be the symbol of Nalusuan Island. It is about the same length as Nalusuan Island, about 100m, and is famous as an “Instagrammable spot.” The front side of the pier is the boat mooring area, and the back side is the snorkeling spot.
With the blue sky and sea as a backdrop, you can take photogenic pictures, which will become a memorable part of your trip, so it is especially recommended for women. During the day, tourists gather at the long pier, so some tourists even stay at hotels on Nalusuan Island to take pictures of the empty pier.
Attraction 2: Lots of colorful tropical fish! Snorkeling in the shallow sea
The sea around Nalusuan Island is very clear because it is designated as a marine protected area. Many colorful fish swim in the shallow sea of Nalusuan, and you can feel as if you are in an aquarium tank. Snorkeling at Nalusuan Island is like watching small colorful tropical fish. If you buy fish food, many fish will come to you.
There are many ways to enjoy Nalusuan Island, such as snorkeling off the pier or entering the sea from the pure white sandy beach. Even small children can enjoy swimming without worrying about being swept away by the waves, which is one of the attractions for those who want to make memories with their families.
There is also an ankle-deep stretch of water near the beach, which makes it look like you are walking on the water.
Attraction 3: Fully equipped facilities
Although Nalusuan Island is uninhabited, it is equipped with all the amenities you need to stay on the island. Another big attraction is that you can eat and stay overnight on this remote island with a spectacular view.
- Hotel “Nalusuan Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary”
There is only one hotel on Nalusuan Island, Nalusuan Island Resort and Marine Sanctuary. Each hotel is an independent type of accommodation like a cottage, and it is the perfect spot to spend a relaxing time on Nalusuan Island.
From around 4pm to 9am the next morning, there are no island hopping tourists, so you can take photos of the empty pier. The average price for a standard room is around 7,000 to 10,000 yen.
You can also make reservations in advance on accommodation sites such as TripAdvisor and Adora.
- Nalusuan Restaurant
Nalusuan Restaurant is a buffet style restaurant. It is very crowded with tourists during lunch. The biggest feature of Nalusuan Restaurant is that it is located on the sea, so you can enjoy your meal while looking at the magnificent view. You can enjoy seafood, American, meat dishes, etc.
Prices at Nalusuan Restaurant range from 300 to 400 pesos (approximately 620 to 830 yen).
- Toilets
When you hear “desert island,” you may be worried about toilets, but Nalusuan Island is a resort, so there are toilets. However, there is no toilet paper, so you should bring your own.
Access to Nalusuan Island is best via tour
We will introduce how to access Nalusuan Island and the average cost. To be honest, it is not very realistic to go to Nalusuan Island by yourself without joining a tour, as it is very difficult. If you want to enjoy island hopping and snorkeling at Nalusuan Island, we definitely recommend joining a tour.
While there is the benefit of being able to arrange a boat at a lower cost depending on the negotiation, there are also risks such as miscommunication due to a lack of understanding, not being able to rent the necessary equipment, and negotiations taking a long time.
Also, when enjoying activities, you will need to find somewhere to change clothes, find toilets, arrange meals, and take the risk of pickpocketing and theft (Cebu is a little less safe than Japan, so there is a risk of pickpocketing and theft), so it is safer and more secure to hire a tour company with a guide.
And the big advantage of using a tour is that you can enjoy a plan to visit nearby remote islands. By signing up for one tour, you can enjoy two or three spots in one day. Depending on the tour plan, you can also arrange a place to eat lunch, so you can focus on enjoying yourself.
Nalusuan Island is one of those remote islands that you can’t miss out on if you want to enjoy snorkeling and island hopping efficiently, located right next to Mactan Island where many accommodation facilities are located.
Places to visit along with Nalusuan Island
Other spots you might want to visit along with Nalusuan Island are Hilutungan Island and Pandanon Island.
We will introduce the characteristics of each.
Hilutungan Island is the most popular snorkeling spot in Cebu.
Hilutungan Island is a remote island located just 20 minutes by boat from Mactan Island. It is famous as “Cebu’s best snorkeling spot” and is well-known among divers for the clarity of the water and the variety of marine life that inhabits it (for example, you can see schools of clownfish, giant trevally, and swallowtail fish).
Nalusuan Island is about a 30-minute boat ride from Hilutungan Island, and the beaches and ocean atmospheres are very different, so many people enjoy both together.
For more information about Hilutungan Island, please see our article
“Hilutungan Island: The best snorkeling spot in Cebu for private hire at a low price,”
so if you’re interested or considering visiting the island, be sure to check it out.
Pandanon Island: The closest island to heaven
Pandanon Island is known as “the island closest to heaven” and is popular for its untouched nature. It is a beautiful tropical remote island that looks picturesque no matter where you look. The Pandanon Temple surrounded by white pillars and the blue sky are sure to be photogenic.
The beach is shallow, so it is not suitable for serious snorkeling, but families and people who are not good at swimming can enjoy swimming in the sea with peace of mind. It is also characterized as an island where you can enjoy a relaxing time, playing beach volleyball and enjoying gourmet food such as sea urchins and shells.
For more information on Pandanon Island, please see our article
“Pandanon Island: Island hopping in Cebu – Many people want to go again!”
If you are interested, please check it out.
The cheapest private tour for one group “Cebupre” Nalusuan Island plan
We would like to introduce Cebupre, the cheapest travel agency that offers private charter for one group, as a plan for enjoying the shallow waters of Nalusuan Island.
The feature of our website “Cebu Pre” is that a Japanese-speaking local guide (female staff available) is assigned to each group to support sightseeing. In addition, we also provide a chartered vehicle (with driver) to transport you from your hotel to the sightseeing spots, so you don’t have to worry about the tour schedule or other tour guests like you would with a group tour.
For example, if you would like us to stop by the restroom along the way, or if there is a spot you absolutely want to stop at, please feel free to ask.
What’s great about CebuPre is that despite being an all-inclusive tour plan, it’s actually cheaper than a group tour.
CebuPre plans and recommends great value and luxury packages that also include Hilutungan Island and Pandanon Island, which you may also want to visit.
“Cebupre” plan
- “Island hopping 3 islands Pandanon Island + Nalusuan Island + Hilutungan Island” (from 7,980 yen)
- “Island hopping to two islands: Hilutungan Island and Nalusuan Island” (from 7,200 yen)
This plan is perfect for island hopping, including Nalusuan Island, and involves a boat trip around the islands. You can enjoy two or three islands in different ways, so this plan allows you to spend a luxurious time on the tropical island of Cebu.
The way to enjoy Nalusuan Island during the tour is snorkeling and dining at a restaurant on the island. You can access Nalusuan Island by boat and enjoy snorkeling while watching various fish at the snorkeling point near the pier. Also, enjoying a meal at a restaurant on the sea is an experience unique to Nalusuan, so it is sure to be a wonderful memory.
*Tour includes: entrance fees, chartered shuttle vehicle, dedicated Japanese guide (female guide available), chartered large bunker boat, life jacket, mask, snorkel, fins.
Additional paid services: underwater camera GoPro, commemorative photo service (800 pesos = approx. 1,700 yen), lunch (300-400 pesos = approx. 620-830 yen)
Introduction of other companies’ tours
- Enjoy snorkeling at Nalusuan Island (from 10,000 yen)
This plan allows you to enjoy snorkeling at Nalusuan Island, taking photos at the pier, and BBQ. You can spend a relaxing and luxurious day at Nalusuan Island. - Tour includes: entrance fee, Japanese guide, life jacket, mask, snorkel, fins, lunch
Additional fee: transportation from hotel to port
Summary
Nalusuan Island, also known as “Cebu’s No. 1 island hopping spot,” is an uninhabited island that can be accessed in about 40 minutes from Mactan Island. The long pier, the island’s landmark, is famous as a photogenic spot, and is also a great spot for snorkeling.
At Nalusuan Island, the fish are fed, so even beginners can easily see many kinds of tropical fish. Feeding the fish up close is sure to be a memorable experience.
When you go to Nalusuan Island, you should enjoy a luxurious trip by taking photos at the pier as a memento of your trip, or island hopping by boat to the neighboring islands. For that purpose, we recommend a tour with a Japanese-speaking guide who knows the area inside and out.
Among them, “CebuPlus”, the cheapest tour company that only offers private tours for one group, provides one dedicated guide for each group, so you can enjoy island hopping with the same freedom as a private trip. If you are interested, please contact “CebuPlus”.